Students' mind at ease as going back to school

After an interim school leave to prevent and control Covid-19, students of high schools and continuing education schools went back to school. Students of preschools, elementary schools, and secondary schools will stay at home until 15 Mar. During students' school leave, teachers in provincial schools regularly cleaned up classrooms, furniture, teaching tools to welcome students back to school.

Head of Department of Education and Training examines the prevention and control of disease at Phuoc Hoa high school (Phu Giao District).

Schools are clean and hygienic

High schools in the province in recent days have carried out the prevention of Covid-19 very seriously. In addition to joining hands with local medical officials to spray disinfectants, each school performed global clean-up many times. For example, Le Loi high school (North Tan Uyen District) implemented a wide range of sanitation and disease prevention activities. The school in collaboration with the health authorities cleaned, disinfected 100% classes and teaching equipment, and the surrounding environment. The school Principal Pham Thi Tung Oanh said the school also arranged a small space for students to wash their hands with soap and clean water; ensured all toilets are hygienic. As students go back to school, the school will monitor the happenings, evaluate the daily situation, report promptly to steering committees to implement prevention and disease activities.

Binh An high school (Di An City), all preparation works to welcome back students were done thoughtfully. The school has 50 pairs of mercurial thermometers, 1 infrared thermometer, and 1 electronic gauge for student's body temperature measurement at beginning of each class. Principal Nguyen Pham Thanh Tuan said the school also prepared 100 bottles of hand sanitizers and soaps in toilets. In addition, the school prepared 200 cloth facemasks and delivered to poor students. Teachers and students' health is above all things, thus the school provides enough drinking water, clean water; encouraged canteen's managers to commit to food safety and hygiene, cleaning canteens 2 times per day with disinfectants, sellers wearing facemask and gloves when processing and serving...

High schools in the province performed multiple prevention measures to be ready for welcoming students back to school. At Nguyen Hue high school (Phu Giao District), although the school facilities were clean, teachers continued to clean up globally again. Like other schools, this school also prepared hand wash sinks with soap, body temperature measuring instruments. "The school texted parents to remind their children to take prevention measures, wear facemask as going to school, and have also reserved facemasks. The school also arranged personnel to pick up and measure students' body temperature at school gates; parents and persons without duties cannot go into the school. In general, the school prepared the best condition for students to feel assured as going to school", said Principal Tran Dinh Chi.

Phu Giao District Continuing education and Vocational training center also collaborated with the District Health Center to disinfect, globally sanitized all classroom, furniture and facilities. The school also installed hand wash sinks with 8 taps, soaps. When students come back to school, health officers will monitor their health and measure body temperature every day.

Continued prevention and control of diseases

In the last 1 month, the whole education - training sector implemented many measures to prevent and control epidemic to protect the health of teachers. Before students return to school, Department of Education and Training's leaders again asked schools to prepare and implement measures to prevent and combat Covid-19;

resolutely prevent the spread of Covid-19 into schools; before students go back to school, schools organized general cleaning of material facilities. Nguyen Hong Sang, Director of provincial Department of Education and Training, said the department directed schools to continue disinfecting classrooms and functional rooms. During class time, when teacher detect that student with symptoms, like fever, cough, shortness of breath, or tiredness, the student must be taken to medical room to be tested, monitored, and provided with facemask; at the same time notify health agencies, management agencies and parents of the student to handle the case".

Following the department's direction, schools developed plans to prevent and combat Covid-19 when students return to school. Binh An high school cooperated with parents to instruct students to wear facemask properly when coming to crowded areas or having contact with people who show symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath. Schools also sent text messages to remind students before going to school to rinse their mouths, throat with salt water or antiseptic mouthwash; to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to reduce the spread of respiratory secretions, do not touch eyes, nose, mouth without washing hands, do not spit indiscriminately; to wash hands often with soap and clean water.

Teachers also remind students to exercise regularly, eat cooked food, drink boiled water, and ensure a nutritious diet. The schools also recommend that parents measure their children's body temperature before going to school, and the school organized body temperature measurement before students enter classrooms. In case students show signs of fever, cough, parents should let them stay at home to monitor their health, when necessary take them to medical centers for treatment and follow instructions of health authorities.

Reported by Anh Sang - Translated by Ngoc Huynh